Isaac M. Bear High School Reviews

119 reviews

The first two years at Isaac Bear are very hard work and drove most of my classmates into a depression due to the competition fostered by the students and staff. Students began to feel like their grades are everything and neglect their health and social life. The second two years at Isaac Bear are great as students get to be all on campus at UNCW and live the life of a college student. We are able to take advanced classes that interest us and to have time and freedom to experience other aspects of life like community service and social events.

Isaac Bear allowed me to challenge myself by taking higher level classes while also making connections with teachers, professors, and other colleagues. Best parts include having a deeper connection with the teachers especially because the school is so small. Worst part was having covid affect my experience my freshman year.

Isaac Bear is one of the early colleges available in New Hanover County. Students complete high school courses during the first two years and then attend UNCW for two years. The first two years are rigorous for even very high achieving students. As a recent alum, I can say that parts of the sophomore semester were more difficult than my current semester of 19 credits of engineering classes. However, this difficulty coupled with the support of the teachers allows/forces one to build very effective studying and time management classes, and most students succeed in spite of the difficulty. For the first two years classes are in a small trailer where most students end up eating outside, two teachers don't have classrooms and must use carts, and there are no sports facilities. (Though there is still a running club and students can enroll in sports at other public high schools). The small class size helps build a tight community. Also, one must mention the two years of free college.

Review Isaac M. Bear High School

Isaac Bear High School, located in Wilmington, NorthCarolina, is best known for its early college program. While being partnered with the University of North Carolina Wilmington, students are given the opportunity to take on-campus classes fully paid for during their junior and senior years of high school. Furthermore, as a current senior at Isaac Bear High school, I know how intensive and excellent this program is. During my first two years at Isaac Bear, I was taught the traditional North Carolina high school curriculum. However entering my third year, I became dual enrolled with the college. I had complete freedom to choose my own courses and design my own school schedule. Additionally, the school requires students to partake in fifty hours of volunteer service each year alongside clubs, guaranteeing a strong school and work resume. Overall, this program gave me a strong headstart on my future while guiding me on a path of success.

I love Isaac Bear. I am an incoming junior and I wouldn't trade my experience here for anything else. Although the courses are academically rigorous the teachers are the best I've ever had and will always be there to help! Some things I would change about the school is the parent involvement, lack of fundraisers, as well as having an actual building.

I enjoyed IBECHS because of its unique atmosphere for students. I came from a very big middle school, and I enjoyed the small class size. I also really liked the focus on academics and helping students succeed. I was able to come outside my shell and grow in many aspects of my life. I became more confident in my social, academic, and emotional life. The teachers are so supportive and understanding. They understand the rigorous curriculum, and therefore are able to offer support that is unique to the challenges that students face in these programs.

Overall, IBECHS was a positive experience for me. The teachers were great and supportive of their students.

The downside was the school was very stressful. The amount of work felt overwhelming at times but it paid off in the end. I felt prepared to take on college level courses with confidence.

Another con is that the school didn’t offer any extracurricular activities or sports, it was school focused mainly on academics.

It was a very balanced education that helped me prepare for life in nearly every way. My experience at Isaac Bear was very fulfilling and if I could go back I would.

I LOVE ISAAC BEAR! The staff and teachers are so amazing and want to help you every step of the way! Yes, it is hard, but it is so rewarding in the end. I saw a difference in how my work improved and it helped me get really good grades in college.

I liked having the opportunity to take college classes and create relationships with a lot of different students and professors. I definitely think the actual physical resources of the school are lacking and the fact the underclassmen take classes in a trailer are not very good.

IBECH will definitely be a challenging school, that will push you to achieve your fullest potential. It will take sometime to get used to the fast pace curriculum, but with the close familly like support from students and staff members, you can surely succeed! Yes, I will admit IBECH is a small school, but that's its biggest pro because this made everyone be super close! Along with that, everyone will help eachother enormously because we are all struggling! Whether it was gathering in study groups on the UNCW campus, creating group chats, or making study guides for everyone the close knit facilities inevitably helped you thrive! Another pro in the academic standpoint of IBECH, is that if you have difficultues in class or on assignments the teachers will step up and help you out because they understand how demanding the curriculum is! Also if you enjoy sports IBECH lets you do sports at your districted highschool, so you don't have to worry about it! Anyway IBECH 10/10 would recommend!

My favorite part about Isaac Bear is that it affords the opportunity to attend university classes for free during high school. This is not only helpful for finances, as it also allows students to make connections with university professors and get a head start on college! One thing I would change is the fact that we don't actually have a building (just a trailer), but that's a county issue rather than a school one. Moreover, because of the focus on academics, other activities like sports and arts are essentially nonexistent out IBECHS.

Isaac Bear Early College High School is very academically challenging. The faculty and staff offer a lot of opportunities for their students. They also provide many resources for extra help when it is needed. The one thing I would like to see change about Isaac Bear is the amount of work given to do at home. The students are expected to participate in clubs and have volunteering hours along with hours of homework each night. The students understand that completing two years of high school within two semesters is going to give a lot more work but I believe we can all agree Isaac Bear expects too much of us students with such little free time.

My experience involved many dedicated teachers and a unique experience compared to other traditional high schools.

IBECHS is the perfect school for more introverted students who prioritize their studies. Even so, I've made a lot of friends here while advancing my education and taking a big step towards college. Every single teacher is personable and fantastic to engage with and learn from. If you're super into athletics or the arts, this school isn't for you (it doesn't have any sports or arts clubs), but the clubs we do have are well-run and fun for all who join. If you want to enjoy the high school experience on a more low-key, smaller-scale level, I strongly recommend applying here - I promise it will be worth your while.

It is a lot of work but it really pays off after Freshman & Sophomore years. Don’t go here if you are afraid of doing lots of homework

I was happy with the opportunity of being accepted into Isaac Bear but I sometimes worried that I missed out on being a normal kid and getting to go to a big high school. The benefit of a free college education for 2 years outweighed it all! So glad I made the choice to go here

Review Isaac M. Bear High School

Great school and great teachers who provide the support needed. Diversity. Good extra academic opportunities. Challenging, but worth the hard work.
College ready. Highly recommend.

The school's main aim is to give you a head start in your future college career. Whether it be through labs on campus at the university or rigorous coursework, Isaac Bear is an excellent school to prepare you for college.

I enjoyed my time at Isaac Bear High School. The faculty and staff were very welcoming, helpful, and very generous. The teachers are there to help and support you to prepare you for college. I can testify and say that they did prepare me. Students will be able to work appropriately and if needed the teachers provide after school tutoring to help the students succeed in their courses.

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